Exploring the toxicological impact of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate exposure on Alzheimer's disease via network toxicology and integrative bioinformatics analysis

This study investigates the potential involvement of the environmental contaminant di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) in the etiology and progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Available data indicates that DEHP, a prevalent plasticizer capable of traversing the blood-brain barrier, can induce oxidative stress and other neurotoxic effects, potentially aggravating the etiology of Alzheimer's disease. The multi-target molecular pathways remain inadequately comprehended, and the existing research exhibits methodological deficiencies. We employed a comprehensive computational biology strategy that incorporated network toxicology, machine learning, and molecular docking techniques to systematically elucidate the neurotoxic pathways of DEHP. This approach aims to elucidate the theoretical foundations for environmental risk assessment and Alzheimer's disease biomarker identification by examining how DEHP may expedite the advancement of Alzheimer's disease through disruption of mitochondrial homeostasis and neuronal structural integrity.